If you are going to change your iPhone or just want to take backup of your iPhone contacts, here is a simple way to export your iPhone contacts as csv file in Windows 7 and you can open this csv file in Excel. You just need your iPhone and iTunes running in Windows7. Windows XP users here.
Export iPhone contacts as CSV file or to Excel
Download and install iTunes, after installation Run iTunes.
Connect your iPhone with computer using data cable. In iTunes if sidebar is not showing, press Ctrl + S to view the iTunes sidebar.
On the safe side BACKUP YOUR DEVICE FIRST , Right-click on your device and select “Back Up” (in-case of any problem with iPhone Contacts you can restore your contacts from backup later).
See also: Make free ringtones in iTunes
When iTunes finish the back up process, Click on “Info” tab
Click on “Sync Contacts with” check box, select “Windows Contacts” from drop down menu and click “Apply” or “Sync” button
Press “Windows + R” keys form keyboard to open “Run” window and type “wab” in “Open” filed and hit OK
Click on tiny arrow and select “Export” as shown below
Select “CSV (Comma Separated Values)” option and click “Export” button
Click on “Browse” button, choose location to save iPhone contacts as csv file
Select iPhone contacts fields that you want to export and hit “Finish” button
You will see this message if iPhone contacts exported as csv file successfully, hit “OK” button.
Now you can use this csv file to import iPhone contacts in any other application or device or you can open this file in Excel to view all iPhone contacts.
See this guide if you want to Sync iPhone contacts with Gmail
View Comments (173)
Great information to export iPhone contacts, I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!
thanks for writing this guide about iPhone contact syncing to computer.
You rock! I had no clue about "wab" or the Contacts folder in Win7. I was hitting brick walls with the very frustrating Apple philosophy of making things exceptionally challenging to convert to and from "the Guild." Not only did you nail exactly what we needed to do, you did so in a very simple, step-by-step manner. Thank you for taking the time to post this!
Sean
Thanks Sean.
I follow you instruction, sync via iTune to Windows Contact. But after I run "wab" the folder show up and show only 1 contact (mine). What should I do?
Oh ok, after I sync it the second time it appears ;)
I'm in the same boat - when I run "wab" it just opens up an Explorer window with on *.contact file.
I synced a second time, but this did not help.
i had the same problems at first and when i checked again by disconnecting my phone and connecting it again, i noticed it had sync'd the contacts with Outlook instead of Windows although I am pretty sure I had selected Windows Contacts. I selected Windows Contacts again, clicked Merge contacts when prompted and it worked! Thanks for this post ! Saved my day!
This post really helps me to save iphone contacts, Thanks.
I've been trying to get this damn thing done for quite a while now and i was about to throw this damn iPhone away.
THANK YOU!
is it for sure that this will not sync it other way around? so it doesn't wipe out the contacts in iPhone? cheers
Thank you! Worked like a charm.
this is great, good info that works. I have been trying to do this for hours after trying all sorts of things from advices from people that should know - telephone sales people. Thanks it really works like a charm. God bless
Perfect! Thanks!